March 14, 2025 | 69 News |
Climate change is reshaping global mango production, moving cultivation into new regions as traditional growing areas face increased challenges. In Sicily, Italy, farmers like Vincenzo Amata have transitioned from traditional crops like olives and lemons to mangoes due to warming temperatures and drought. Amata’s farm, PapaMango, now produces over 100,000 pounds of mangoes annually on 17 acres. Italy’s mango cultivation has expanded rapidly, from 24 acres in 2004 to nearly 3,000 acres by 2023, driven by favorable climate shifts and high demand.
Meanwhile, traditional mango-producing countries such as Mexico, Peru, and Brazil are facing climate-related difficulties, including droughts, excessive rainfall, pests, and disease outbreaks. In Mexico, Ataúlfo mango production in Chiapas is threatened by heavy rains and delayed flowering, while Kent mangoes from Sinaloa are thriving. Peru’s mango exports have plummeted by 55% due to El Niño and warming temperatures.
In the U.S., regions like Florida and California are experiencing a boom in mango farming as milder winters reduce frost risk. Farmers are turning to more climate-resilient mango varieties and adopting improved cultivation practices.
The global mango trade is adapting to these shifts, but climate unpredictability continues to pose risks, impacting smallholder farmers and global supply chains.
